The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-04-29
KIRKLAND MoRMoNs.
How They Are Reviving the Faith Of
=. ~. u P,r1,r,lanf .rs,xa S.r,sAh.

aEs = sabaB8F KIRKLAND, o., April Is.
IA Twenty-three miles east of the city ii
Cleveland and about seven miles south from,
the shore Of Lake Erie was driven, in the
year 1881. the first stake of Zion. Fifty-six
years ago it was not so evident as it now is
where the large cities and towns Of the lake
region would be- 1t then seemed an assured
fact that Kirkland would be larger than
either Cleveland or Buffalo ada4 sslas4t Z
In the latter part of the winter and early
spring of 1881 there was the most wonderful
ingathering Of people ON Kirkland Flats that
had ever been seen in this part of the world.
1t was impossible to build houses fast enough
to accommodate those who came Rude
shanties were extemporized. Many people
continued to reside, like gypsies, in the
Conestoga wagons and OK carts in which they
came. The sound of the hammer was heard
incessantly. Houses and shops grew as IL by
magic 1t was busy mart. To supply the
wants OF this multitude was no small task
There were men, women and children of
many grades, but the rude, squalid and poor
seemed to be the, prevailing type. Hon. A.
q. Riddle, OF Washington, then young man
residing in the vicinity, who visited the Flats
at this time, says that one could see in their
faces evidences of the wild fanaticism that
had brought this assemblage of odds and ends
together
This was season Of religious agitation in
all portions of the country. Alexander Camp
bell and his father, Thomas Campbell, Scotch
Presbyterians, had recently begun to preach
some new doctrines in regard to the proper
Interpretation of the Scriptures. They had
made decided sensation in various quarters
and had organized many churches. Those
who accepted the preaching of the Campbells
We're called "Campbellites," and some people
were disposed to persecute the new denomina-
ton This only added strength and coher-
ence to the new sect, and it grew rapidly.
Among the ambitious preachers who had
come from the Baptists and accepted the
views of the Campbells was fluent and
somewhat brilliant young man named Sidney
Rigdon. He often complained to his friends
that the Campbells were obtaining more
credit than they deserved It was not long
after that Rigdon and Joseph Smith, Jr.,
were preaching Mormonism Rigdon was
the principal orator of the new dispefisation.
But again he was disappointed, for Smith was
the prophet and founder. yP
The prophet and Rgdon soon decided that
it would be convenient to have bank. They
had no capital to speak of, except faith, but
the bank was organized. It was called erhe
Kirkland Saving society" Smith was made
cashier and Rigdon president, and the faith
full were advised to deposit their funds with
the concern. An unlimited amount of paper
was issued, and for a time money was plenty
in the community. ,r.
Under direction from the Lord, Smith set
about the construction of q temple. It was
made two stories high. with dor1ner windows
in the roof, which utilized the garret as q
third story. The walls were made of stone
and covered on the outside with a cement
that has stood the rayages of fifty-five years,
and is still as perfect as the day it was put on.
This cement was made by an Englishman
lone of the faithful, who alone knew the
secret of its composition. 1t has often been
examined by expert builders, who would be
willing to pay large sum for the recipe from
which it was made, but all in vain. It's ingre-
dients and their proportions are as much
mystery as the manner in which the nyra-
mids Of Egypt were constructed The fact
that the temple stood intact for more than
half century is cited by believers as certain
proof that the Lord was its architect
Smith and Rigdon added to their bank and
temple mill and store. The prophet by
this time also had a comfortable house of his
own, well furnished considering the times
Things thus went on very well for time,
but finally the natural results of "wild cat"
banking began to be felt There was 10 re-
deeming basis for the bank circulation, and
depositors who had put in Ahard money! did
not feel contented to take out irredeemable
paper. One thing followed another, and the
crash at length came all at once Smith dis
posed OF his earthly effects as hastily as pos
sible, and, in company with Rigdoii. fed in
January, 1888, to Independence, Mo. They
did not get away, however, until they had
been arrested on charges of swindlng. The
suit was instituted by citizens who were in
censed over the losses they had sustained
They were joined by disaffected and apostate
Mormons. The prisoners escaped from the
sheriff.
= Before leaving Kirkland the saints en-
countered many schisms and dissensions
among themselves. These troublous elements
were transplanted to Missouri and Illinois. 81. $
Z Only one family, that OF Mr.. and Mrs Stratton,
remained in Kirkland. They still believed in the
prophet, but not to the extent of fleeing with
him to Missouri. They held the key of the temple
and claimed to have the title to it. aH b
After the trouble at Nauvoo, nls, and the death
Of the prophet, the leaders split up and sep
arated There was much dissatisfaction with
the sudden rrou,inenca and leadersh;n ~ Rr;g. 8
ham young. That worthy however too,r the .
larper mart of Inc neonle w;t him and ,na,la tba
,vondarfu, bee;ra 10 Salt Tata Ear moro thoY
thirty wears tha world baard varv l;ttla ~ ar, 4
Morrnons ay,caot +ho.s ~ Tftah pr;ahan, 49,,
bo,, shn h;snsa,f - h ~ ot t,a,,,rh - =
sadar he Lant down schs,o hv the saroa of hts
,ast ;ro, Mil; p1t the ecotteraS laodaSs ka,t the
Ares of fa;tn alive On tba;r bearfhstonaa vi,h
the lance of time the halo around the l;ea and
work of the nronbet who had haen murdered
prew and at iaroth there was gathsr.
inc and an oroanization ~ the frao.
ments into q hody called the araoroan;vad
aggressive, dogmatical, earnest. Its missionaries
~ 81 iDas 'g @ Oh anu s sas gospe 70
CLAIM, 70 the Old deserted temnla here Mrs.
Electa Stratton stili held the kew. A few dollars
expended in renovating made the old building
q presentable structure, as good or better than
the ordinary country churcn. Inc Reorganized
orahch iald clal " ING propsrey anu nave oD'
sh;c, f s.y ,aars as hser - strsnaai
from the beaten routes Of travel is again having
ssboom.'' It is the Mecca Of a church. It is the
center Of conference. and hereresides one OF the
principal bishops 40 sssjfs4se
The conference which has just closed its ses-
sons mere = sne Iargese ever nela oy .ne 0enom-
al ths nron,;nant men Il tba ch,,rc ana nae,
its close Joseph Smith II, the son and heir of
the prophet, on whom the prophetic mantle fell,
delivered an important revelation from the spirit